Istanbul, August 7, 2020
Turkish Muezzin Osman Aslan who had been working in the Great Church of Constantinople after it was converted into a mosque, died suddenly in the church, according to reports, apparently of a heart attack.
His death was announced in a tweet saying:
“We wish mercy from Allah to the family and relatives of Uhud Mosque, Muezzin-Kayyum, who passed away during the voluntary guidance service in Hagia Sophia, due to a heart attack.”
Osman reportedly worked in Hagia Sophia from the first day of its conversion into a mosque as a volunteer, informing Moslems about coronavirus measures they must observe while praying in the occupied church.
The conversion of the Great Church into a mosque remains a very painful issue in the Orthodox and international communities, as it signals a Turkey moving towards Islamism, which is increasing Turkish President Erdogan’s popularity among Islamists.